Climate protection - Deutsche Telekom CR Report 2025

We are pursuing ambitious, science-based climate targets set out through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) have been confirmed. By 2040, we aim for net zero emissions along our entire value chain. A climate transition plan sets out the path for this and describes the measures we want to take to achieve this. The framework for this is provided by our Group-wide climate strategy and our climate targets.

You can find more detailed information on the topic of climate protection in our audited Sustainability statement 2025.

Our Group-wide climate targets

2021: We achieved our goal of sourcing 100 % electricity from renewable sources (Scope 2, market-based method).

2025: We achieved our goal of achieving net zero emissions in our own operations (Scope 1 and 2). To this end, we have reduced emissions from our own operations worldwide by more than 94 % compared to 2017. We neutralize the remaining emissions of our CO₂e footprint through high-quality projects that bind CO₂e from the atmosphere, e.g., through reforestation.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions

in kt CO₂e

^aBase year 2017 adjusted for the companies that have since been sold and newly added. Due to the relevance of 2017 as the base year, the value was adjusted retrospectively due to methodological changes (cf. b)
^bSince 2023, values also include so-called ‘fugitive emissions’ from refrigerants and fire suppressants.

By 2030: By the end of the decade, we aim to reduce CO₂e emissions across Scopes 1–3 by 55 % in absolute terms compared to 2020. To achieve this, we are in close dialogue with our suppliers. The aim is to reduce emissions in production and the products manufactured in the use phase should consume less energy. This is our interim goal on the way to net zero emissions along the entire value chain.

“Net zero” by 2040: In 15 years at the latest, we want to achieve net zero emissions along the entire value chain – across all three scopes. To achieve this, it is necessary to reduce emissions by at least 90 % compared to 2020. Only up to 10 % may be neutralized via high-quality projects that bind CO₂e from the atmosphere.

Climate transition plan – our path to net zero

Our transition plan helps us to steer the measures with which we want to achieve our SBTi-validated climate targets by 2030 and 2040 respectively. The basis for this is the calculations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in recent years as well as our short-, medium- and long-term climate targets. The transition plan was confirmed at the highest level – by the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Telekom AG. The chart below illustrates our milestones and levers.

The figures are based in part on estimates, assumptions, and projections. The figures for 2020 were adjusted retrospectively in the reporting year due to updated emissions factors and changes in methods and structures applied. These adjustments have yet to be made in the case of 51 % of the Scope 3 emissions in categories 1, 2, and 4. Adjustments to the base year have necessitated adjustments to the absolute target values.

Savings achieved and expected savings: Savings achieved between 2020 and 2025 were 7.7 % for Scope 1 emissions and 99.2 % for Scope 2 emissions. Scope 1 and Scope 2 emission savings are expected at approximately 39 kilotons of CO₂e emissions by 2030. Savings achieved for Scope 3 emissions were approximately 26.6 % between the base year and 2025. We expect general savings of approximately 2,431 kilotons of CO₂e emissions by 2030.
Electrification of vehicle fleet and buildings: Electrification and reduction of the vehicle fleet and modernization of buildings and reduction of floor space are key actions for lowering Scope 1 emissions. Using 100 % green energy and increasing the number of electric vehicles helps to reduce emissions. The number of electric vehicles rose by 2,836 in the reporting year. Scope 1 emissions were reduced by 5.3 % year-on-year in the reporting year.
Decarbonization of the supply chain: In line with our sustainable procurement strategy, a Group-wide task force is leading an initiative to reduce GHG emissions at both the supplier and product level. Our efforts in this regard are guided by our own ambitious climate targets.
Circularity savings: Circular economy actions help to lower our CO₂e emissions. We continuously increase the proportion of recycled materials in our network technology, promote reuse of used equipment, and increase the proportion of refurbished equipment within the Group. By selling more refurbished smartphones, we also reduce emissions caused by new devices.
Renewable energy use phase: We expect the share of renewable energy in the countries’ electricity mix to increase, which will lead to emissions savings in the use phase.
Energy savings use phase: In addition to increasing the efficiency of our suppliers’ end products, we are also investing in our own product development. Increasing the efficiency of products and solutions in the use phase and hence reducing emissions in the downstream value chain will be key leverage here.
Logistics actions & others: Optimizing logistics solutions for deliveries to our retail and business customers and extending product life cycles, e.g., by reusing refurbished devices, reduces our Scope 3 emissions. In addition, considering criteria for sustainable sourcing supports the concept of a circular economy, e.g., refurbishment and reuse.
Additional actions: Based on the assumptions made in the reporting year, we still have a gap of 7 percentage points to close in order to achieve our 2030 climate target. In addition to the actions already taken, we will need to implement further measures in the coming financial years.
CO₂ removal: To achieve our goal of climate neutrality by 2040 (net zero), we will offset up to a maximum of 10 % of our remaining total emissions by means of high-quality carbon offset projects. We use internationally recognized standards (Oxford categories IV/V) for quality assurance.

More information on the climate transition plan, climate protection measures and efforts to reduce emissions can be found in our audited

Sustainability statement in the Annual Report 2025

The transition plan sets out important next steps to continuously reduce our emissions across the entire value chain. On this basis, we can derive necessary measures. This also includes the planning of necessary investments and budgets. We also include target values in other technical and financial planning parameters of the company. The consistent implementation of the necessary measures in the coming years is a common challenge that we must face with all departments involved and in close cooperation with our suppliers.

We take the financial impact of our emission reduction measures into account comprehensively in our transition plan.

In the downstream value chain, we plan operating and capital expenditures of approx. EUR 0.2 billion for the period from 2026 to 2029 (2025 to 2028: approx. EUR 0.3 billion). A key lever here is to further improve the energy efficiency of our products and solutions during the use phase. The funds earmarked for this purpose are mainly allocated to investments in property, plant and equipment. The investments mentioned address selected priority measures. A significant part of the emission reduction – especially in Scope 3 – is achieved through changes in the supply chain and in our products and can therefore only be partially covered directly through our own capital expenditures.

In the upstream value chain, the focus of the measures is on our suppliers. Since the implementation takes place there, these measures do not involve significant own operating or capital expenditure.

The electrification of the vehicle fleet is an important lever for our Scope1 emissions. To this end, we are planning operating and capital expenditures of around EUR 0.1 billion in the aforementioned period (2025 to 2028: approx. EUR 0.2 billion).

T‑Mobile US is currently not included in the financial quantification of the measures.

Our achievement of net-zero emissions in our own operations is based on consistent sustainable management. As a partner to our business customers, we combine digitalization and sustainability to help them achieve and measure their ESG goals with scalable solutions. Only those who lead the way themselves can credibly develop solutions for others.

Rodrigo Diehl Member of the Board of Management, Deutsche Telekom AG and Spokesman of the Board of Management, Telekom Deutschland GmbH

Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem: making climate change visible

Climate protection requires reliable data. Because only what is measurable can be effectively managed. In addition to its own measures, Deutsche Telekom, together with other stakeholders, is committed to improving the framework conditions for managing climate risks.

One example of this is the European Union’s Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem: It enables transparent and free access to comprehensive earth observation data on climate, the environment, and earth changes. As part of a long-term contract with the European Space Agency, funded by the European Union, and in cooperation with other partners, T‑Systems contributes its technological expertise to provide infrastructure for hosting and processing this data and make it available for various user groups.

The Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem particularly supports the observation and analysis of environmental and climate change, such as greenhouse gas emissions, the spread of wildfires, sea-level rise, and long-term climate trends. It thus provides a data-driven foundation for informed decisions in politics, business, and society. Municipalities also benefit from the available information, for example, in climate-resilient urban planning and infrastructure development. In agriculture, the data can support sustainable resource and water management, while emergency services can use it for rapid situational assessment in the event of a disaster.

The Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem is therefore a central European data infrastructure for visualizing environmental changes and systematically analyzing developments over time.

Involving suppliers in climate protection

We systematically involve our suppliers in our climate targets. This is done on the one hand through transparency requirements and the structured collection of climate data, for example via the CDP Supply Chain Program. On the other hand, we address suppliers throughout the Group and gradually integrate climate criteria into existing procurement and management processes in order to further strengthen the consideration of climate protection along the supply chain. The “Supplier Engagement Rating” of the non-profit organization CDP evaluates companies according to how actively they work with their suppliers on climate protection. In 2025, CDP once again included us in the “Climate Leader A list” and as a “Supplier Engagement Leader”. For more information about our CDP award, please visit CR strategy.

CDP Supply Chain Program

in %

Excluding T-Mobile US

This was helped by the fact that we calculated supplier-specific emission intensities based on the responses of our suppliers in the CDP Supply Chain Program: for this purpose, we compared the total emissions of suppliers to their sales. The KPI “CDP Supply Chain Program” shows how much of our purchasing volume from suppliers is covered by the CDP Supply Chain Program. In 2025, this figure was again around 46 %.

Beyond climate protection, human rights and environmental protection are central fields of action in our supply chain. For more information, see Human rights and supply chain here in the CR report.

Looking ahead

In the reporting year, we achieved our goal of becoming greenhouse gas neutral in our own operations (Scope 1 and 2). This is mainly due to the global purchase of electricity from renewable energies, significantly improved energy efficiency in our grids, and measures in the building and mobility sectors. Our next interim goal is to reduce our CO₂e emissions across Scopes 1–3 by 55 % in absolute terms by 2030 compared to 2020.

Deep Dive for Experts

Scope 1 and 2 emissions

Our Scope 1 emissions are mainly caused by the combustion of fossil fuels, such as fleet fuels, natural gas, and district heating and cooling. In the table below, we go into detail about our Group-wide Scope 2 emissions from our electricity consumption. We differentiate according to the methods “market-based” and “location-based” and thus follow the “GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance”. Emissions are reported in CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e).

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2025

2024

2023

2022

Scope 1 and Scope 2 (“market-based”)^a

Total in million

0.2

0.3

0.2

t CO₂e emissions Scope 1

223,790

236,355

239,602

212,044

t CO₂e emissions Scope 2 (“market-based”)^b

16,375

16,212

17,957

21,019

^a	Since 2023, CO₂ emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) have also included fugitive emissions from refrigerants and fire suppressants.
^b	If no provider factors are available for the market-based method, the country-related residual factor is used (based on the RE-DISS project of the European Commission, which assessed the national share of renewables). If there is no residual factor available either, the IEA factor is used (same as with the location-based method). As a rule, the value of the emission factor in the residual mix is higher than the IEA’s country mix factor. Renewable energy certificates are included in all cases.
Data is partly based on estimates, assumptions and projections. Includes offsets from purchased certificates.

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**Emissions – Scope 2 (“location-based”)**

	2025	2024	2023	2022
Scope 2 (“location-based”)
t CO₂e emissions (Scope 2, “location-based”)	3,736,800	4,002,218	3,979,565	4,232,913

CO₂ certificates

We use CO₂ certificates from high-quality carbon removal projects that remove CO₂e outside our value chain to neutralize residual emissions. These include, for example, reforestation projects in other regions. In the reporting period, we offset a total of 250,000 tons of CO₂e outside our value chain through verified CO₂e certificates (2024: 35,167 tons of CO₂e). The majority of this was accounted for by CO₂ certificates from removal projects: 243,000 tons of CO₂e. Of this, 188,300 tons of CO₂e are attributable to biogenic sinks (e.g., reforestation) and 61,700 tons of CO₂e to technological sinks (2024: 25,000 and 8,000 tons of CO₂e, respectively). All certificates used were tested in accordance with recognized quality standards and cancelled in the reporting year. Further information on CO₂ certificates and quality standards can be found in our Sustainability statement.

Carbon Intensity

Since 2023, we have been reporting the “Carbon Intensity” KPI on the basis of sales. The numerator of the KPI takes into account the total CO₂e emissions (Scope 1–3) of all energy sources – electricity, fuel, gas and district heating – and the denominator includes revenue. Location-based carbon intensity amounted to 105 metric tons of CO₂e/million € in the reporting year. (2024: 121 tons of CO₂e/million €). Market-based carbon intensity was 73 metric tons of CO₂e/million € (2024: 86 tons of CO₂e/million €). Compared to previous years, carbon intensity has been steadily declining since 2023. As a result, the relationship between economic performance and greenhouse gas emissions has shifted over time: fewer emissions are generated per unit of sales.

The figures reported for 2024 were adjusted retrospectively in the reporting year due to updated emission factors and methodological and structural changes.

Carbon Intensity

in t CO₂e / million € revenue

Alignment with TCFD recommendations

In 2015, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) was established at the Paris Climate Change Conference. Its goal is to develop voluntary and uniform climate-related financial disclosures. In 2017, the TCFD published concrete recommendations for implementation. Companies can use these as a guide to inform investors, lenders, insurers and other stakeholders about the risks of climate change for their business model. In parallel with the recommendations in the area of climate, the final standard of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) was published in 2023. This deals with nature-related opportunities and risks. Details on Deutsche Telekom’s commitment to biodiversity can be found here in the CR report under Operational resource protection.

We welcome the goals behind the TCFD and are steadily advancing our TCFD-compliant reporting. The physical risks posed by climate change include extreme weather conditions, which are already becoming increasingly evident today. Transitory risks such as the development of the CO₂ price are also increasingly determining the political discourse. This has a direct impact on our work and our stakeholders. The risks to the continuation of our operations are analyzed by our risk management and operationally managed in the business units. In addition, we are internally evaluating how reporting on climate-related financial risks and opportunities can be aligned with the TCFD’s recommendations. This is done based on the existing approaches to strategy, controlling and risk management.